The Political Affairs Committee welcomes as most timely the
report of the Group of Eminent Persons on “Living together – Combining
diversity and freedom in 21st-century Europe” and their proposals
as a basis for further reflection on Europe’s future, against the
backdrop of the Organisation’s ongoing reform process. It notes
that on several issues the Group’s findings corroborate positions
already taken by the Assembly. The challenge has been, and still
is, to ensure implementation.

The present report suggests that the Parliamentary Assembly
is ready and willing to contribute to the changes which are needed
to ensure greater cohesion in European societies, so that everyone
may fully benefit from living together. It therefore proposes that, inter alia, the Assembly reflect
on ways to overcome the current “crisis of leadership” in Europe;
encourage politicians and elected representatives at all levels
to speak out on the challenges currently raised by the threats to
the European project; reflect on the proposal for an annual Forum
against extremism; address the demographic crisis in Europe, as
well as continue to address the challenges raised by extremism and
the rise of xenophobic or racist parties.

Among many other specific recommendations addressed to the
Committee of Ministers in the fields of migration, intercultural
dialogue, education, the role of the media, youth and women, as
well as social cohesion and gender mainstreaming, the report also
recommends that the Committee of Ministers consider launching a major
“Campaign on living together” along the lines of the two “All different
– all equal” campaigns.